Police in Edo State have arrested a 45-year-old hunter, Kehinde Adetunji, for allegedly masterminding the kidnapping and murder of his friend, Edafe Oghenekome, in Utese Village, Ovia Southwest Local Government Area of the state.
Reports indicate that Oghenekome had recently sold pineapples from his farm worth millions of naira. Shortly after the sale, he and his younger sister were abducted by gunmen who demanded a ransom of N45 million from the family.
After the ransom was reportedly paid, the kidnappers released the sister but continued to hold Oghenekome captive. He was later killed by the abductors.
The spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the arrest of Adetunji along with two accomplices — Abdulsalam Mohammadu, 21, and Nasiru Yau, 24 — following an extensive investigation by the command.
According to Ikoedem, the arrest of Mohammadu helped investigators track down the other suspects and led them to the location where Oghenekome’s body was dumped.
“The sustained investigative and operational efforts led to the arrest of Abdulsalam Mohammadu, who revealed the involvement of other gang members, including Kehinde Adetunji, aged 45, identified as the syndicate’s local informant, and Nasiru Yau, 24, who supplied food to the gang in the bush.
“All suspects have confessed to their roles in the kidnapping, ransom collection, and the murder of Edafe Oghenekome. Further investigation also led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and three Dane guns, as well as the remains of Edafe in the Igueladidi forest, Iguobazuwa, where his body had been abandoned to decompose,” Ikoedem said.
